Teddy Bear Bee vs Lana'i Sandalwood Moth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Teddy Bear Bee | Lana'i Sandalwood Moth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Amegilla bombiformis | Iliahia pahulu |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Apidae | Gracillariidae |
| Size | 15-20 mm | 5-8 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | Australia, Oceania | Oceania |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Critically Endangered |
Teddy Bear Bee
A plump, densely furred native Australian bee that closely resembles a bumblebee. Despite its cuddly appearance, it is a solitary bee that nests in burrows in soft sandstone or clay banks.
Did You Know?
It uses buzz pollination, vibrating its flight muscles at a specific frequency to shake pollen from flowers that other bees cannot access.
Lana'i Sandalwood Moth
A critically endangered moth discovered in 2026, known only from a small grove of roughly 30 sandalwood trees on the island of Lanai. Its larvae mine sandalwood leaves.
Did You Know?
This moth is known from just one grove of 30 trees — if those sandalwood trees disappear, this entire species vanishes with them.